Outdoors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service, announced June 2 the launch of the 2011 Share the Experience photo contest.

It is an annual photography competition that encourages nature enthusiasts, amateur photographers and kids of all ages to explore their parks and share their experiences through photos.

The 2011 Share the Experience photo contest is open to contestants ages 13 and older and will run from now until Dec. 31. Participants can visit http://www.sharetheexperience.org/ to submit their photo entries.

“Our annual photo contest is an opportunity for Americans to show us the national parks through their eyes,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We hope that in its 11th year, the contest will continue to help cultivate enthusiasm and excitement for our national parks.”

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This year’s grand prize includes a four-day trip to a national park and the winning photograph will be featured on the 2013 Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Additional prizes include GPS units, REI gift cards and more.

The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks — some 84 million acres. It works hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect all Americans to the parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow.